Type of Prize

The most important research award in Germany

Purpose

The programme aims to honour outstanding scientists and academics, expand their research opportunities, and help them employ particularly qualified early career researchers.

Number and Value of Awards

Up to ten prizes are awarded annually with a maximum of €2.5 million per award.

Nominations

Direct applications are not accepted.

Nominees may be put forward by: all Universities and other doctorate-granting higher education institutions in Germany, all members of the DFG, the Helmholtz Association of National Research Centres, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, the elected spokespersons of the DFG’s review boards, previous Leibniz prizewinners, and former members of the Leibniz Selection Committee.

Selection Criteria

Awards are conferred to individuals who, with regards to the stage of their careers, have demonstrated superior achievements in their research areas both in a national and an international context and who show exceptional promise for future top-level accomplishments that will have a sustainable impact on the German research landscape. The prize is not limited to certain research areas; the scientific quality of the previous work is the sole criterion for nomination. The prize may be awarded to researchers working at a research institution in Germany or at a German research institution abroad.

Selection of Prizewinners

Prizewinners are selected by the DFG’s Joint Committee on the basis of recommendations made by the Selection Committee for the Leibniz Programme.

Here you can find a list of the Selection Committee's current members(interner Link).

Call for Proposals

The prize is announced annually with a submission deadline. Nominations must usually be submitted by the middle of January for the award ceremony in the following year.

Documents and formalities to submit nominations

To be submitted in German and in English, if possible: a scientific and personal appraisal, approx. one to two pages in length, justifying the nomination, a curriculum vitae of the researcher's scientific career (without photos of the candidates), an up-to-date list of publications by the nominee. Any other letters of recommendation or further documents are not welcome. Note the recommendations “Dealing with Risks in International Research Cooperation(Download)” when looking for suitable candidates. 

Nominations are to be submitted via the DFG’s electronic proposal and review system elan.

Forms and Guidelines

• Forms and Guidelines(interner Link)